2.

000 rwf

JAN-MAR 2017 | ISSUE 2

WOMEN OF HONOUR
interview with 5 rwandan
army officers
pastor lydia
masasu
on the mountain of
prayer

understanding
gestational
diabetics

AFRICA
CONVENTION OF
WOMEN IN SECURITY
ORGANS
RWANDA SAYS "NO" TO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
2
 editorial 3

EDITORIAL LETTER
Nyirasafari, Minister for Family and Gender

C
onsidering major events, 2016
was a strong year. Possibly the
most publicized of them all was the
near victory of Hillary Clinton in the US
presidential elections. If the United States
had succeeded in writing an important
chapter in its history, Clinton would have
been the rst woman to occupy the Oval
Ofce.
The Gambia, Zimbabwe and Tanzania also
took the monumental step of passing a law
banning child marriage.
In Pakistan, the government expressed
itself unanimously against crimes of honor,
setting the punishment for the guilty to 25
years imprisonment. Now, a man in that
country cannot kill his wife or sister for a
crime that is seen as bringing shame to the
family.
Promotion, inaugurated The Regional
Center of Excellence on Gender Based
Violence and Child Abuse. Needless to say,
this is a crucial step in the right direction.
And I cannot fail to mention that the same
year, you happened upon the rst issue
of INGOBYI MAGAZINE. We would like to
thank all the people who sent us a word of
encouragement. The second issue you are
reading now will lead you to the discovery
of great Rwandan women. I hope you are
encouraged to pursue your dreams.
Happy reading, and have an exceptionally
good year 2017.
Cdric Nsengiyumva
Editor in Chief

In Rwanda, the year just ended was rich

in good initiatives for the advancement
of women and the ght against all
discrimination based on gender.

In September, CEOs of major Rwandan

companies joined the HEforSHE campaign,
and in November Prime Minister Anastase
Murekezi, accompanied by Hon. Esprance

INGOBYI | JAN-MAR 2017 | ISSUE 2

 4 contents

Inside this issue...

17

27
www.ingobyi-mag.com
30
 5

7 Africa Convention Of Women In Security

34 Developing A Reading Culture
Organs Its never too late to pick up a book and start your own
Hundreds of women in uniform came to Kigali to journey. Age is really just a number!
exchange ideas on how they can play a role in combating
gender based violence.

10 UN WOMEN spices up life with

38 Yes You Can't
greenhouse tomatoes Are you a yes person? Now is your chance to start saying
For years, UN Women and Imbuto foundation have imple- no for your sake.
mented high impact social initiatives that have changed the
lives of thousands. Welcome to a world where no one is left
behind!

12 Let There Be Light!

40 Procrastination
For these women, climbing rooftops is the rst step toward Have you wondered why you never complete your assign-
reaching the sky. ments? Chances are, you are a procrastinator!

17 Women Of Honour
47 MoiForYou: Pearls, Stones And Fashion
The dubai based fashion designer Germaine Mwananawe
These women deed traditional norms to defend their
Mwanamali Bugingo unveils the secret behind the
country. It is all about patriotism.
distinguished brand MOIFORYOU.

27 Pastor Lydia Umulisa Masasu

50 Book Review
Underneath her commitment to the pastoral calling lies a Discover the top sales books in Rwanda.
natural sensitivity to equal opportunity, which for her is a
Biblical principle.

30 4 BLOOMS
Meet Nicole Bamukunde, the woman entrepreneur who is
redining the fast food industry.

INGOBYI | JAN-MAR 2017 | ISSUE 2

 6

www.ingobyi-mag.com
 focus 7

The city of Kigali is fast assuming the (GBV). It was a follow up to the 5th
mantle of favorite conference destination. General Assembly meeting of the Kigali
The inauguration of the eye-catching Kigali International Conference Declaration

KIGALI HOSTS Convention Centre is undoubtedly the

catalyst to this new trend.
(KICD), which was held in Algiers, Algeria, in
March of the same year.

"AFRICA The oval structure is quite possibly the

rst sight that attracts the attention of any
rst-time visitor to the Kimihurura area, if
The Algiers meeting brought together
representatives of African police services,
the African Union, United Nations agencies

CONVENTION not the entire city.

Against this brilliant backdrop came

in Algeria, including UN Women. UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon was in
attendance.

OF WOMEN another important event to sum up what

has been a year of top conventions that
picked Kigali city to host them; the Africa
For those who may not already know of
it, the KICD is a brain child of a campaign

IN SECURITY Convention of Women in Security Organs

took place right at the end of November
and saw up to 250 women who serve
that was launched in 2010 here in Kigali
by Rwandas security organs in partnership
with One-UN Rwanda. The campaign was

ORGANS" in the security agencies of 37 African

countries come together to pick each
others brains for vital information on what
role they can play in combating the scourge
of violence against women and girls.
by ingobyi
editor@ingobyi-mag.com
Going under the theme Womens impact
in security: rethinking strategy. The
convention aimed to share knowledge
and experience, and renew commitment
to the ght against gender based violence
launched under the theme: The Role of
African Security Organs in Ending Violence
Against Women and Girls. The KICD
was the resultant proclamation signed
as a commitment to pursue the agenda
of involving security organs in ghting
violence against women and girls.
Getting back to the 2016 convention of
women in security organs, an array of
important dignitaries graced the event,

INGOBYI | JAN-MAR 2017 | ISSUE 2

 8 focus
among who were top ofcials from the
government of Rwanda including Prime
Minister Anastase Murekezi and Minister
of Gender and Family Promotion, Hon.
Esperance Nyirasafari. Rwandas Chief
of Police Emmanuel Gasana, who also
attended the KICD General Assembly in
Algiers, was present as well. Ofcials from
the wide range of United Nations agencies,
as well as dignitaries from other civil
society organizations attented the function.
Prime Minister Murekezi reiterated the
countrys commitment to the ght against
gender based violence (GBV). He noted
how much the government has invested
in strong and capable institutions that are
equipped to provide holistic support to the
victims of GBV, while remaining strategic
in effective prevention.
On the sidelines of the convention, ofcials
took the opportunity to inaugurate the
Regional Center of Excellence against
Gender Based Violence and Child Abuse at
the Rwanda National Police Headquarters
in Kacyiru. The center is a continental
comprehensive system which has been put
in place for the collection, management
and sharing of GBV-related best practices
and information.
The convention was not devoid of color as
it took place during a two week period of
activism against gender based violence;
bright-orange clad activists taking to the
street to voice their distaste for the archaic
practice. Something would be amiss if
we treated the two functions as totally
separate events; to say it was two solid
weeks of attacking gender based violence
would be more accurate!
One in every three women will experience
violence in their lifetime, said Ms Fatou
Lo, UN Women Country Representative
in Rwanda in her closing remarks as the
activism period came to a close. I am
condent that I am speaking for all of you
gathered here today when I say that every
woman who experiences violence is one
too many. These women are our sisters,
www.ingobyi-mag.com
mothers, friends, neighbors, cousins, co-
workers. Sometimes these women are us
and we need to keep Saying No to this
violence.
The country representative lost no time
reminding those present of the need to
include partners in the struggle against
GBV. Men, boys and religious leaders are
some of the partners she mentioned. This
came as a timely reminder for two basic
reasons; the on-going HEforSHE campaign
has acted as a spring board to enlist the
active participation of men and boys in
promoting equal rights for women, and
ghting GBV.
Secondly, enlisting religious leaders is
a crucial step because a large part of
the continents population is religious,
hence the need to align their beliefs with
an active consciousness of the plight of
women who are silently suffering violence.
It is no secret that at times, certain
religious settings view women
emancipation as being against their
teachings. Demystifying this supposed
clash would go a long way to lend
momentum to the ght against GBV and
the desire by many to undermine the
campaign for equal rights.
The One UN Resident Coordinator Mr.
Lamin M. Manneh noted that Rwandas
success in combating gender based
violence is a reection of President
Kagame and his Governments strong
commitment to women empowerment, as
well as according due dignity to women
and children, especially girls, wherever
they are. The One UN considers ghting
GBV a top priority, especially as we
move into the next global development
agenda underpinned by the SDGs, and
will continue to work with our partners
as we deliver on our commitments to end
Violence against Women and Girls,
Mr. Manneh said. A tting way to sum up a
successful convention!
 9

INGOBYI | JAN-MAR 2017 | ISSUE 2

 10 making a difference

UN WOMEN SPICES UP LIFE

WITH GREENHOUSE TOMATOES

By Cedric Nsengiyumva The structure of a greenhouse resembles one of those large tents that
people set up in a garden to welcome guests to a wedding! Under such
tents, plants gracefully stretch tall, proudly displaying eye-catching
tomatoes; jewels of a fruitful collaboration between UN WOMEN and
IMBUTO FOUNDATION. In this controlled environment, nature celebrates
the most beautiful expression of altruism, a desire to change the lives of
the not so fortunate. It is pure love for, and dedication to uplifting the less
privileged; no one will be left behind!

www.ingobyi-mag.com

63% of households headed by women
are living either in poverty or extreme
poverty, 12% more than those headed
by men.
A greenhouse is a covered structure
in which plants requiring regulated
climatic conditions, like tomatoes, are
grown.
Tomatoes are among the twenty most
important food items purchased in
Rwanda
.
RWF 9 billion is spent annually by
Rwandans to purchase tomatoes.
Protected from the vagaries of weather,
the delicate scarlet red skin of the
fruit contrasts harmoniously with the
greenery of the plants. This beautiful
picture, luminous with color, is a beacon
of sustainable development and social
emancipation. It is a solid ladder for
vulnerable women to climb out of extreme
poverty.
For more than ve years, Imbuto
Foundation and UN WOMEN have
overseen a hands-on initiative to incubate
and implement high impact social initiatives
that have radically transformed the lives of
thousands of Rwandans countrywide.
Greenhouses have proven that rural
women, and even the less educated or
illiterate, can successfully invest in modern
farming, says Schadrack Dusabe, UN
Women Rwanda Head of Programmes. Mr.
Dusabe goes on to say that the benets to
the cooperatives, supported by UN Women
through Imbuto Foundation speak for
themselves; the results are phenomenal, to
say the least.
With the support of UN WOMEN, 22
cooperatives in 19 districts received a 300
square meter greenhouse each, as well as
seeds, nancial assistance, technical and
commercial training. The land was provided
by the Ministry of Local Government.
At national level, the socio-economic
impact is colossal. 1,360 families
making a difference
(approximately 5,800 individuals) have
been positively impacted by revenues
from greenhouse exploitation, which offers
an optimum yield of 96 tons per unit
every season. That makes a total of up
to 2,000 tons for the entire project. "We
are moving towards our optimum level of
production,says Marie Suzanne, President
of Icyerekezo Cooperative, a 12 women
association based in Shyogwe, Muhanga
district. Currently at 60% of our capacity,
we are improving our performance
gradually, thanks to the training and
assistance offered to us by IMBUTO
FOUNDATION and UN WOMEN."
Marie Suzanne says tomatoes have
signicantly improved quality of life of
the beneciaries, and helped to restore
condence in these women. Overall, the
Green Houses generate an annual income
of about 50 million Rwandan francs,
coming from fresh tomatoes and derived
products such as ketchup.
Trained in marketing techniques, these
women, once at the bottom of the social
ladder,have now expanded their market
to Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda. Their
produce goes mainly to supermarkets,
restaurants and hotels.
NEW FRULEP, a convenience store located
in the Gikondo area of Kigali City specializes
in fresh fruits and vegetables, much of
it supplied by the greenhouses. At New
Frulep, we insist on high quality fruits and
vegetables, says New Frulep Manager.
11
When we rst received tomatoes from
the Greenhouse project, it was clear on
rst sight that our customers would love
them.
The Greenhouse project no doubt brought
a breath of fresh air to its beneciaries.
Against all odds, these women, most
of whom are widowed, illiterate and/
or HIV positive have showed the world
that success is in the ability to overcome
prejudice.
We are able to pay for health insurance
for all members of our families, and
even friends, says Marie Suzanne, eyes
sparkling with pride and appreciation.All
our kids are in school, and we have
gained the respect of our community.
The red fruit has caused a swift migration
along the countrys social ladder (read
Ubudehe) for the Greenhouse women.
With the dramatic increase of purchasing
power and capital, the cooperatives have
further growth through the acquisition of
livestock.
But there is need to scale up best
practices for a wider outreach. Going
by targets, a lot more women still have
to be reached. A joint investment by all
stakeholders including Government, the
private sector and other Development
partners can make a signicant and
impactful difference.
INGOBYI | JAN-MAR 2017 | ISSUE 2
 12
you

let there
be light! This is the story of four women farmers
living in one of the poorest provinces of
Rwanda. Spending their days bent, back
to the sun, growing sweet potatoes and
sorghum, they could not imagine that this

THE STORY OF THE FIRST same sun that shines as far away as India
would one day become their best ally.
Fate smiles on people patient, courageous,

RWANDAN WOMEN SOLAR determined; God gives grace regardless of

age, gender or race.

ENGINEERS They always share the same routine.

Awakened at dawn, they each go to their
plot of land, plowing under a blazing sun,
By Cedric Nsengiyumva persisting in removing from the earth
their meager livelihood. Accustomed to
this hard life from an early childhood, they
dont expect anything more from heaven

www.ingobyi-mag.com

than what the earth gives them.
However, in the background a
beautiful story was being written.
A light would have to radically
transform their lives.
Thousands of miles away, Sanjit
Bunker Roy, an Indian activist
and former world class squash
player, founded Barefoot College,
a voluntary organization working
in the elds of education, skill
development, health, drinking
water, women empowerment and
electrication through solar power
for the uplift of rural people.
A priori nothing links this school,
located 350 km from New Delhi,
and the non electried village of
Karambi where our four women
lives; Nothing except the sun
majestically awaiting its hour of
revolution which will happen a few
years later.
Two dynamic and socially involved
women, Christine Muhongerwa of
Safer Rwanda, and Laure Kananura,
Program Ofcer at the United
Nations Development Program
(UNDP) are seated facing each
other in an ofce. The discussion
revolves around an ambitious,
innovative project: to exit Karambi
Village from darkness.
Our darkness was not only
due to lack of electricity. Our
life was hopeless. The genocide
had extinguished all around us.
Everything became dark in us,
told Nyiransengimana Catherine to
Ingobyi magazine, her eyes shining
with gratitude for Safer Rwanda
and UNDP.
The social benets of such a project
are undeniable. UNDP jumps in, the
decision is made: four women will
be chosen from the inhabitants of
making a difference 13
the village of Karambi to go to India.
Christine and Laura are delighted.
The pieces begin to t together.
Fate takes his time, plays puzzle.
Yet, a centerpiece remains to be
tted: the women! How to convince
women farmers to leave their elds
for six months to go learn a new
profession in India, 8,000 kilometers
from their village?
After receiving what seemed to
them the craziest request they
have never received, Karambi local
authorities immediately convenes all
the village women.
Women are attentive. Men are
skeptical. Children are worried.
Tongues are loosened, giving free
rein to all kinds of speculation.
Some people tried to discourage us
by telling scary stories. According to
them, our bodies will be shredded
and given as food to chickens or
engage in sacrice, says Catherine
Nyirasengimana, the project
coordinator.
The atmosphere is charged
with a heavy wind of concern
hanging over the whole assembly:
in which language will they be
communicating? Who will take
care of their children during their
absence?
Christine reassures them: Barefoot
College, the institute in India
responsible for teaching them all the
technique of solar engineering, has
developed an effective method of
communication based on colors and
sign language. Children, meanwhile,
will be fully supported by Safer
Rwanda and UNDP.
We were still hesitant. But
when we realized all efforts the
INGOBYI | JAN-MAR 2017 | ISSUE 2
 14 making a difference

Rwandan government is investing for

the advancement of women, we decided
to embark on this project, adds Mrs
Nyiransengimana..

Alea Jacta Est ! They will y to India. It is

the beginning of the countdown for the
brave ambassadors before departure for
Tilonia. The sun that was going to shine
their future has just begun its revolution,
all the stars are aligned!

For these Christian women, the word

of God expressed through the prophet
Jeremiah came true: For I know the plans
I have for you, declares the LORD, plans
to prosper you and not to harm you, plans
to give you hope and a future.

A few weeks after, our engineers-to-

become embarked on an Ethiopian Airlines
ight. First stop: Addis Ababa. Izagiriza
Maria, one of the four solar engineers
recalls:"When we arrived at Addis Ababa,
we were convinced that Ethiopians speaks
Kinyarwanda. We soon realized the hard
way that this was not the case!
After a long stopover, they boarded on
another ight to New Delhi, and then a bus
to nally arrive at their nal destination. A
total of 7.500 kilometers trip for women
that had never traveled!
The welcome is warm in Tilonia, a town
located 350 kms from New Delhi. In
the classroom, women are grouped by
country of origin: Ethiopia, Gambia, Malawi,
Tanzania, Rwanda and Zambia. We
were fortunate to have the best trainer, a
man of great patience and extraordinary
sensitivity. We could see the image of
Christ in him. Thanks to him, we got the
best results and were ranked rst! says
the coordinator, eyes lled with emotions.
Mission accomplished. After six months of
training, our four farmers have successfully
defended the national colors: they became
the rst Rwandan women solar engineers
ever!
Despite the joy that spontaneously spread
all over the village on the announcement of
the SHE-ROES arrival, some skeptics still
wondered if it was acceptable for women
to climb on houses roofs. Nta mugore
wuririnzu, says the Rwandan culture.
The four musketeers, Nyiransegimana
Catherine, Izagiriza Maria, Macekeri Patricia
and Musabyeyo Jeannette will soon prove
that one can be a prophetess in her own
country. One for all, and all for one!
After a couple of weeks, the women are
nally ready to make their rst installation.
More than 300 people are surrounding
the house they are prepared to illuminate
with their knowledge. From nearby villages,
people had come, attracted by the news
that is spreading like wildre.
Without precipitation, solar engineers are
unpacking circuit boards, batteries, cables,
welding, screwdrivers, pliers, resistors,
transformers, stabilizers, Accustomed
before their departure to handle hoe
and rake and now tactfully manipulating
electronic devices, these women arouse
admiration. Eyes wide, villagers attend
the show, catching on the ight the very
technical conversation between engineers.
Musabyeyo Jeannette clearly remembers
that day: In India, we had invented words
in Kinyarwanda for each material to help
us memorize what we were learning. Our
fellow villagers were discovering new words
they had never heard before. We are
proud to have enriched the Kinyarwanda
vocabulary. We knew everyone was waiting
for that particular moment when we will
get on the roof. People were convinced
that we wont dare breaking the tradition
that refrain women from climbing on roofs.
When one of the solar engineers seized
the ladder, the crowd stirred. Some men
volunteered to go up in their place but they
politely refuse their offer. They had own
an altitude of over 10,000 meters, the
lean distance between the ground and the
roof will certainly not prevent them from
carrying out their mission.
It is with condence that they moved up
the walk, comfortably settled on the roof
and begun to install the solar panels.
The crowd is watching their actions, the

www.ingobyi-mag.com

suspense is palpable.
Moments later, women solar engineers
descend, enter the house and connect the
panel.
Fiat Lux! Loud cries of joy are heard from
miles around. The rst house in the village
had been enlightened using the free solar
energy. In total, 110 houses in the village
of Karambi will be torn off from darkness
by our solar engineers.
Nationwide, this magnicent program
initiated by Safer Rwanda with a support
of UNDP has enabled 444 houses across
Rwanda to benet from clean, affordable
electricity.
Before electrication by solar energy, our
children often failed in school because it
was very difcult to revise the lessons in
the evening. We couldnt afford buying
enough candles to light until late. Some
boys were braving the darkness and try
to nd some light, but it was too risky for
girls.
making a difference 15
The year following the installation of the
rst solar panels, the village recorded
a marked improvement in educational
outcomes for children including state
exams, according to these exceptional
mums.
The solar panels positively impacted the
community in more than one way. On
health and the environment, the solar
electrication reduced CO2 intoxication
from kerosene and helped reduce
deforestation.
Today we have a regular source of
revenue from installation and maintenance
of complete solar energy systems. We take
care of our children and grandchildren, pay
for health insurance for the whole family
and manage to help people in need! We
are grateful to the Rwandan government
for promoting women, especially vulnerable
one. We are now accomplished women,
useful to our community; we all contribute
to the development of our country.
INGOBYI | JAN-MAR 2017 | ISSUE 2
 16 lead story

www.ingobyi-mag.com
 lead story 17

Women
Of
Honour
INGOBYI MAGAZINE PAID A VISIT TO THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE WHERE WE MET FIVE WOMEN OF HONOUR AND
COURAGE. PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR PROFESSION, THEY OPENED THEIR HEART AND SHARED THEIR CURRICULUM.
WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF UNIFORMED WOMEN!
By Cedric Nsengiyumva

INGOBYI | JAN-MAR 2017 | ISSUE 2

 18 lead story
Through the ages, in every country known,
the military career has always been seen
as the preserve of men- and not just
any men; only the vigorous and most
courageous. Beyond the selection based
on physical skills, there is social consensus
around the fact that women should refrain
from a career in the armed forces.
In fact theres a common, albeit half-hearted
joke that the only troops a woman is able
to manage are her husband and children;
as if ovary could not rhyme with military!
In ancient Rwanda, enlisted men could be
replaced by a member of their immediate
family provided that it was a boy. For
instance, if a man had served in the
military for a long time and wanted to be
discharged, his son could take his place.
In the 17th century, however, NDABAGA,
a young girl, decided against all odds to
act with what is probably the rst gender
equality demand of all time, and one of
the nest acts of sacrice; the only child
of an enlisted father, she learns the art
of combat, masquerades as a boy and
volunteers to replace her father so that he
can return home and join his wife who had
resigned to the fact she would never see
him again.
Four centuries later, this wonderful story,
told from generation to generation, will
land in the ears of refugee girls and trigger
the dream to return to their homeland.
For these young girls, Rwanda is a land of
milk and honey, wonderfully depicted in
adult conversations that recount stories of
heroes and heroines like NDABAGA and
many others.
Lieutenant Colonel Jessica Mukamurenzi
of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF)
observes that obviously NDABAGA enlisted
for the good of her family. She could not
understand why she couldnt replace her
father in the army just because she was a
girl.
www.ingobyi-mag.com
Recalling the hard times while still a
refugee in Uganda, Lt Col Mukamurenzi
adds; We have been lefties. My dream African Republic, many of whom are
was to come back to my country. There
is nothing more valuable than having a
country where you belong.
Rwandas military women today have
their roots in the armed struggle whose
gun bearing wing was then known as the
Rwanda Patriot Army (RPA) back in the
early 90s. But before these girls actually
enlisted, they had to face tremendous
resistance from the stereotypes and
cultural barriers that stood before them;
their modern-day Goliath-unbeatable and
persistent.
Driven by the noble ambition of liberating
their homeland from negative forces, they
drew from their patriotism the strength to
overcome the odds. Some people around
us thought we were abnormal, says
Lieutenant Colonel Seraphine Nyirasafari,
acting Director General of the Armed
Forces Shop. Our goal was to free the
country and thats what we did. Today, we
are proud and we hope that all Rwandan
women will ght to the end to full their
dreams, no matter how big the dream is.
Major Stella Uwineza, an electrical engineer
in the RDF, says that despite peoples
discouragement, her desire to full her
dream has not diminished. "Nobody will
ever full my dream but me. The military
career is not different from others. When
you are passionate about what you do,
everything becomes easy.
Rwandas troops are known worldwide for
their professionalism and involvement in
a number of peacekeeping missions, both
regionally and internationally. According to
gures provided by Rwandas Ministry Of
Defence and the United Nations, Rwanda
is the second country in the world with
the most women engaged in international
missions of peacekeeping behind Ethiopia,
and the fth biggest contributor of troops.
Rwandan peacekeepers in the Central
women, have been decorated with UN
Peacekeeping medals in recognition of their
professionalism and discipline in carrying
out their duties. In her remarks during
the occasion, Diane Corner, the Deputy
Special Representative of the UN Secretary
General in Central African Republic
and Deputy Head of Mission said: you
have shown dedication, professionalism,
discipline, efciency, and you have played
an important role in the implementation of
our mandate.
This level of professionalism attracts more
and more women to enlist. Major Lydia
Bagwaneza of the Republican Guard invites
all women with a strong desire to join the
army to do so. The army is a career in
itself, just as rewarding as other careers
in civilian life. We have access to training
modules that allow us to improve and
become more efcient in all areas, she
explains.
 19

INGOBYI | JAN-MAR 2017 | ISSUE 2

 20 lead story
Lt Col Nyirasafari highlights the fact
that challenges are numerous but this
shouldnt discourage women from joining
the army. Although cultural barrier are
still prevalent, women should escape
their comfort zones and face all obstacles
preventing them from exploiting their full
potential.
Lt Col Mukamurenzi, who has visited
several countries, gives us her
comparative perspective on the place
of women in the Rwandan army, I
visited countries where women held no
positions of responsibility. In Rwanda,
women in the army are not just owers
used to beautify. They have the same
performance requirements as men and
occupy senior positions, thanks to our
superiors who have the vision to move
things forward in all areas.
Indeed, it is not a coincidence that
women play a very active role in the
Rwandan army. In 2010, the Ministry of
Defence established the Gender Ofce
www.ingobyi-mag.com
with the specic task to ensure access
for all to opportunities, and to combat all
forms of discrimination.
Aged between 30 and 38, the army women
that Ingobyi spoke with are all married with
children. While generally speaking they
share the same point of view, they have
different views on whether couples are
more balanced when the spouses are both
military.
According to Lt Col Betty Dukuze, who
herself is married with three children, it
matters little what her husbands career.
What matters, she says, is respect Mukamurenzi. For me it is the equivalent
for each other, an opinion that differs
from that of Lt Col Mukamurenzi- our
responsibilities are such that it is easier
to marry a military man. He can better
understand what we go through and be
more supportive.
Major Bagwaneza, who is married to
a civilian man, afrms that love is the
foundation for stability, As a member of
Our role is to
preserve the physical
integrity of all
Rwandans and as
such, all forms of
violence, especially
violence based
on gender, are
unacceptable.
the VIPP BN, the Republican Guard unit
charged with protecting VIPs, Im often
away from home for several days. My
husband understands the nature of my
work and the underlying obligations.
All four superior ofcers are very
sensitive to the issue of violence based
on gender. For them, people who exhibit
violent behavior in a gender aspect are
considered enemies by the Rwandan
army.
This barbaric behavior has to be totally
eradicated from our country, says Lt Col
of murder because victims of the violence,
often women, are traumatized for
life. She adds, Our role is to preserve
the physical integrity of all Rwandans
and as such, all forms of violence,
especially violence based on gender, are
unacceptable. We will ght them with all
our strength. Violence is our enemy!
 21

INGOBYI | JAN-MAR 2017 | ISSUE 2

 22

From left to right: major lydia bagwaneza, lt. col. seraphine nyirasafari, lt. col. betty dukuze, lt. col. jessica mukamurenzi, major stella uwineza
www.ingobyi-mag.com
 23

INGOBYI | JAN-MAR 2017 | ISSUE 2

 24

www.ingobyi-mag.com
 25

LITE DATA PLAN

HAVE MORE FUN
internet Dial *456*8#

DAILY PACKS

PRICE - RWF DATA + BENEFITS USSD CODE GIFT BUNDLE CODE

50 RWF 7 MBs *456*2*5# *456*2*5*receiver number #

100 RWF 18 MBs *456*2*12# *456*2*12*receiver number #

200 RWF 65 MBs *456*2*50# *456*2*50*receiver number #

300 RWF 210 MBs *456*2*200# *456*2*200*receiver number #

500 RWF 650 MBs *456*2*500# *456*2*500*receiver number #

800 RWF 1.6 GBs *456*1*2# *456*1*2*receiver number #

48 HOURS PACK

PRICE - RWF DATA + BENEFITS USSD CODE GIFT BUNDLE CODE

500 RWF 530 MBs *456*2*530# *456*2*530*receiver number#

800 RWF 1.3 GBs *456*1*13# *456*1*13*receiver number#

WEEKLY PACK

PRICE - RWF DATA + BENEFITS USSD CODE GIFT BUNDLE CODE

1,000 RWF 800 MBs *456*2*750# *456*2*750* receiver number#

2,000 RWF 1.6 GBs *456*2*1500# *456*2*1500* receiver number#

5,000 RWF 7 GBs *456*1*7# *456*1*7* receiver number#

THE SMARTPHONE NETWORK

INGOBYI | JAN-MAR 2017 | ISSUE 2
 26

pastor lydia masasu

ON THE MOUNTAIN
of PRAYER
www.ingobyi-mag.com
 feature 27

It is 5:30 pm; a fine rain is watering

the Mountain of Prayer upon which
stands Evangelical Restoration
Church, Masoro. In the waiting
room of the church, a convenient
and quiet atmosphere prevails.
Christians of all ages sit in the open
space, engaged in whispery conver-
sation while they await their turn to
go in and have a private moment with
the senior Pastor.

A few minutes later, we are invited

to the office to meet with the
pastor. Although Pastor Lydia
Masasu is alone, we get the feeling
there is an invisible Presence that
fills the room. Its an aura of peace
and respect.
Pastor Masasu proceeds to recount
the tale of her humble beginnings,
her encounter with God, and the
challenge of serving as senior
pastor of the Masoro parish of the
vast Christian ministry that she and
her husband founded over twenty
years ago.
This is an exceptional woman,
devoted entirely to evangelizing and
restoring the hearts of multitudes.
By Cedric Nsengiyumva

From early childhood, Lydia Umulisa, the

seventh child of her family, accompanied
her mother, a fervent Catholic, to
Mass every day at ve in the morning.
Her tirelessness and spiritual fervor
quickly earned her a nickname in the
neighborhood- "The Nun".
It is impossible to remain insensitive to

INGOBYI | JAN-MAR 2017 | ISSUE 2

 28 feature
the divine Presence. At the age of 15,
Lydia Umulisa received the call to serve
God. She considered joining one of the
Catholic orders to become a nun. She was
convinced that this was the path the Lord
had curved out for her. And she was not
mistaken! Convinced as she was though,
the call would prove difcult; not exactly
what she had imagined it to be. Hungry
for the word of God, Lydia met a group of
young born-again Christians in 1986 and
discovered a new approach to Christianity
based on a dynamic faith in Jesus Christ.
With great enthusiasm she attended
the born-again Christian meetings, and
gradually, God sketched in her soul the
lines she would later follow to discover the
mission for which she was called.
At 18, Lydia heard of the four spiritual laws
for the rst time. The neighbor who gave
her the information never once suspected
that he has unwittingly opening a door that
would usher the young girl into spiritual
maturity.
In 1989, love came knocking on Lydias
door. She married a young Christian
man named Yoshua Masasu. The two
would soon found what is now known as
Evangelical Restoration Church. The church
now has parishes all over the country, and
in other parts of the world. The couple has
ve children together.
Pastor Masasu says that the teachings of
Joyce Meyer had a profound effect on her
during her theological studies in 2003.
Now, she horns the necessary spiritual
assets that will aid her in carrying out her
pastoral mission, needless to say, under
the watchful eye of God.
The Masoro parish is home to thousands of
members, and many will readily attest to
the compassion and love with which they
are led.
Endowed with a great propensity for
listening, Pastor Masasu conducts regular
counseling sessions with her ock. For
her, it is important to remain true to the
www.ingobyi-mag.com
ministrys mission; to restore the broken- promotion of gender equality is inspired
hearted. Despite her busy schedule, she by the word of God. She singles out the
does not miss an opportunity to stretch words of the Apostle Paul in his rst letter
her hand out to others. Her energy is to the Corinthians Nevertheless, neither is
constantly replenished by two profound the man without the woman, neither the
Biblical passages Fear you not, for I am woman without the man, in the Lord. For
with you; be not dismayed, for I am God: I as the woman is of the man, even so is the
will strengthen you; yes, I will uphold you man by the woman; but all things for God
with the right hand of my righteousness. 1 Corinthians 11:11-12.
(Isaiah 41:10) and I can do all things
through Christ who strengthens me Pasteur Lydia Masasu urges Rwandan
(Philippians 4:13). women to take full advantage of all the
opportunities available to them. As much
Beyond caring for her ocks emotional as men, all women have an inherent role
needs, Pastor Masasu also repairs social to play in the development of the country.
fractures, mending broken family ties. For God has deposited in them all that is
her parental instinct, she has earned the necessary to realize all their potential
endearing term of Mummy from her according to the richness of His grace.
ock. Endowed with a great inner strength,
she motivates thousands of women
through conferences and conventions
in Rwanda and abroad. Her focus is to
instill in them the spiritual energy that will
empower them to take their rightful place
in society; a place of responsibility and
honor. She teaches them to embrace the
potential God has endowed them with.
Underneath her commitment to the
pastoral calling lies a natural sensitivity
to gender equality, which for her is a
Biblical principle. Referring to the book
of Genesis, she insists on equality and
complementarity between men and
women. Based on her long experience
in counseling, she reveals that a lot of
Rwandan women suffer from a tendency to
underestimate their ability, showing signs
of insecurity and vulnerability inherited
from a tradition that has very often kept
them under the dominance of men.
This woman of God raises her voice and
stands vigorously against all forms of
violence, and particularly the gender-based
variety. She is an ardent admirer of the
HEforSHE campaign that was initiated by
the United Nations, and championed by
President Paul Kagame here in Rwanda.
She reveals that the role of men in the
 feature 29

God values women and men equally. Each

one has been created for a specific purpose
and mission. He has gifted both of us with a
wide variety of talents and skills. Let us rise
up and exploit them for the benefit of our
country. God and the policies of our country
support us.

INGOBYI | JAN-MAR 2017 | ISSUE 2

 30 business

4 BLOOMS: THE RECIPE OF SUCCESS

Finding a fast food restaurant in Kigali where one can

enjoy a tasty burger without spending a lot of time and
money can be an obstacle course.
Nicole BAMUKUNDE and her husband Paul had this not
so great experience two years ago. But Thanks to her
ability to see obstacles as doors to breakthrough,
Nicole, together with Paul, decided to investigate the
fast food market in Kigali. The result? 4 BLOOMS! Ingobyi
met Nicole and asked her to share with us the exciting
story behind 4 BLOOMS. By INGOBYI

www.ingoby-imag.com
 32 business

Nicole, a little bit about you?

I completed a degree in hospitality

management, and worked here in Kigali
for a number of hotels. Then I moved to
Shenzhen, China, where I was exposed
to the magic world of technology. In fact,
I was motivated by a wise person who
advised me to take advantage of my stay in
Shenzhen and acquire as much knowledge
as possible on information technology.
When I got back to Rwanda, I joined an
IT (Information Technology) company
before opening my own chain of fast food
restaurants.

What took you from hospitality to

IT?

Like I said, I was motivated by a wise

person. But also, I had the call because
I knew that the two domains were very
compatible. In fact, I am currently working
on a project that optimizes the integration
of technology in the hospitality business. A
lot has been done so far, but there is huge
room for improvement.
day, we stayed home because we couldnt We then worked on recipes. We used to
nd such a place. We couldnt gure out invite family members and friends at home,
Have you always been attracted by
where to go. That was when my mind serve them our burgers and sauces and
hospitality?
started to munch on the idea of opening ask for their feedback.
my own fast food; a real fast food with
As far as I can remember, yes. I clearly
great service and a nice environment. Paul People have different tastes, so you cannot
recall that when I completed high school,
and I began gathering all available data please everyone. But when you listen
it became crystal clear in my mind that
here in Rwanda to build up our business carefully to what they have to say, and get
I would pursue a career in hospitality.
plan. We also travelled to Kenya and a good understanding of what it means,
This career matches with my personality.
Tanzania to get a better feel of the fast it is possible to come up with recipes that
Helping people is second nature. I love
food industry. Of course when you are appease everybody, while also focusing on
being surrounded by people; I enjoy
interested in fast food, you have to learn freshness, nutritional value and balance.
travelling and interacting with people from
also from the giants. So we also went to This is what we did at 4 BLOOMS.
different cultures and backgrounds. For
the United Stated of America.
me, being in the eld of hospitality is like
working with fun itself! I really do enjoy it! 
 
What happened after you gathered BLOOMS? When was that?
all the data you needed?
Our readers are interested in how 4
BLOOMS started When developing the recipes, we noticed
When we were satised that opening a fast that serving breakfast and dinner at the
food was a viable business, we decided to same outlet was not doable. 4 BLOOMS
About two years ago, my husband and I
meet the owner of the 4 BLOOMS brand is a concept that ts in the urban
went looking for a place to enjoy a good
in Spain. We bought all the rights, which architecture, so we need to maximize the
burger. We craved fast food. We didnt
meant that we owed nothing to the brand. space we have been allocated. We decided
want the kind of place where it takes three
The concept was very original and we loved it. to start by opening a chapatti fast food at
hours or so to get your order. And that

www.ingobyi-mag.com

Magerwa, Gikondo. Then about one year
ago, we opened the rst 4 BLOOMS at SP
Rugunga.
Is your husband involved in the
business?
Yes. Paul is very much involved. He deals
with budgeting and nance whilst I deal
with administration. I am very lucky to have
him with me. It is really an added value
when two people share the same vision. It
is even better when that person happens
to be your loved one. It is a blessing!
Of course we sometimes disagree on
things. It is not always perfect, far from it!
But the most important thing is to reach
common ground and move on. Reaching
mutually set targets should be the driving
force.


 Take time to write a business plan. It will
personnel for your fast food
business?
All our staff has a TVET (Technical and
Vocational Education Training) background.
We train them to t our company culture
before assigning them tasks. Basically
we want them to be customer oriented,
responsible, proactive and ambitious.
During the interviews for selection, I always
ask potential employees who their boss will
be if they got the job, and I expect their
answer to be the client.
In general, ladies have proven to be more
responsible and proactive. That is why,
with time, we ended up having only ladies
working in our restaurants.
Nicole, what motivates you?
I believe in God. I stay clear of fanaticism;
any kind of fanaticism! God gives us
talents and we are responsible for how we
manage them. I am also far from being
fatalist. When something happens, blaming
God does not help us to grow. We need to
tackle the situation and nd a way out, with
business 33
Gods help of course. God helps those that
help themselves.
Every morning, before I start my day, I get
my inspiration from an email my sister
forwards me from a Christian web portal
called Top Chretien.
What advice do you give to women
who would like to start a business
We focus on
and succeed like you have?
To start and succeed in a business, any
freshness,
kind of business, you need to be a ghter.
Your determination will help you override
obstacles. Never let mediocrity enter in
nutritional
your life. I will also advocate for attention
to small details. Unexpected events will
always arise, but by putting necessary time value and
into preparation, one can minimize their
occurrence.
balance
be your compass all the way up.
Being fair in dealing with your employees
is a very good investment. They are your
best ambassadors. To all my fellow sisters
living abroad, your country, Rwanda, has
an abundance of opportunities. It is up to
you to take the rst step and grab a full
measure.
Nicole, on behalf of all Ingobyi
readers, thank you for your
hospitality.
I wish all Ingobyi readers would come to
one of our fast food restaurants and enjoy
the best chapatti and burgers in town.
INGOBYI | JAN-MAR 2017 | ISSUE 2
 34 life
O
ver the years my ears have been
assaulted by an array of insulting
statements about the reading habits
of Africans. You may have heard people
say things like If you want to hide treasure
from an African, put it in a book. Taban Lo
Liyong, one of Africas best known writers
once referred to Africa as a literally desert.
Annoying, right! But I would also go as far
as saying that it isnt really that far from
truth! Lo Liyong made his observation
way back in the 1960s, and not much has
changed since then. It is true that Africa,
and Rwanda in particular, lags far behind
the rest of the world when it comes to
reading. And by reading I just dont simply
mean reading text related to work or
school; this is mandatory reading that is
imposed on you by necessity.
www.ingobyi-mag.com
De
A R velo
Cu ead ping
ltu ing
By
Isa
a
A true reading culture is one in which
people read for pleasure. Until you have
read for pure enjoyment, you havent really
read. When you often pick up a book at
leisure and simply enjoy its richness, thats
when you can begin calling yourself a
reader.
Experts and observers (people with too
much to say) have put together a list of
reasons why we in Rwanda dont read as
much as we should. They include excuses
like we dont have a lot of writers, there
are so few publishers. Some say we dont
read because books are expensive (makes
you wonder then why public libraries are
empty most of the time!). And of course we
have all accepted these excuses as gospel
truth!
re
cB
arc
lay
I think the reason is quite simple and
straight; we are not interested! If we were,
we would not care where the reading
material came from. And we would
certainly be ocking the public libraries
where we dont have to pay a dime to read
a book. I have been reading books written
by authors all over the world since I was in
primary school, and that was a long time
ago. Admittedly, it would be better to read
our own home grown literature, but while
we await its long and difcult exodus, we
can sure partake of foreign writing; it can
be quite engaging as wellI bear witness!
But where does it all start?Our children
Its never too late to pick up a book and
start your own journey. Age is really just
a number! I know people who started
reading when they were well in their fties.
But lets just say its too late for you, or
 life 35

maybe you are too busy to nd time to

read.

Dont let what could have been dene the

reading culture in your house. You have a
real chance to guide your children towards
becoming great literally minds. As they say;
knowledge is power, so Im sure you would
like to train your little ones in the art of
knowledge and power.

After all, they are tomorrows leaders-

and who wants leaders who dont care
for reading, right?! A reading culture
best starts with those little photocopies of
you running around the house, breaking
expensive stuff. Children are our best bet if
we want to end Rwandas poor reputation
in the reading world. Their minds are
receptive and willing, and they soak in
information like a sponge soaks water.
It isnt hard work getting a child to love
books.

And the steps you have to take to achieve

this are quite simple and straight forward;

Read to them. This is by far the rst

and easiest step. Read to your kid a few
bedtime stories and they will be begging
you for more in no time. I know the habit
of reading to children is an alien one in this
our lovely country but, again, its never too
late! In the end, I guarantee it will start
choice. And when they are done reading of television. Why not interest them in
being fun for you as well; thus killing the
it, take them to a movie or ice cream as reading instead? It is a lot more productive.
proverbial bird with two stones.
a reward for good work. This little trick is Their future is safer with reading than
Reading to kids is a way of telling them
time proven to work wonders! watching television.
that stories are fun. With time, they are
sure to start picking up a childrens book
Get them off TV. The problem with to- I dont want to risk burdening you with too
to read on their own. And once, they have
days culture is that the only form of leisure much information, so this will have to do
begun, youll never have enough books to
kids care for is television. for now. Just try it out and see if it wont
satisfy their curiosity.
make a change. The next time I decide
Their brains have been mercilessly dulled
to write about this subject, we will dive
Give your kids incentives for by all that negative information and useless
deeper. Hopefully by then our home grown
lms they devour ten hours a day. They are
reading. An incentive is not a bribe. It is busy learning new kissing techniques, and
literature will have completed its forty
simply a way to encourage your kid to put years in the desert!
how to have sex.
more effort into what they are doing.
When your kids graduate to reading on
Many are being introduced to pornography
their own, offer to take them to their
at a painfully early age because they are
favorite bookstore to pick a book of their
watching too many unsupervised hours

INGOBYI | JAN-MAR 2017 | ISSUE 2

 36

www.ingobyi-mag.com
 37
37

Creativity
Beyond Ltd
GRAPHIC DESIGN, PRINTING, TV & RADIO ADVERTS
6 FABRICATION PROMO ITEMS LARGE FORMAT SMALL FORMAT
(
5 . Billboards . Pullups . Flexi Banners . Brochures/ Flyers
9 . Light Boxes . Teadrops . Backlit . Posters
. Cars Branding . One way . A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6
, . Signages
. T-Shirts . Vinyl Stickers . Calendars
& . Acrylic Sign
. Caps . Reflective Stickers . Business Cards
( . 3D Signages
. Keyholders, Pens, Umbrellas, etc
6

BILLBOARDS MOCKUPS &BRANDING OTHER DESIGNS

ity
eandtiv
CBeryo Ltd

BANNERS
i ty td
iv
L
d
t
ea
n

d
) Lt
o

da
Cr
y

wan
e

(R
B

nk
s Ba
es
Acc

Tel: 0788414032 / 0728414032 Our core value is to meet clients needs E-mail: valens.creativity@gmail.com
INGOBYI | JAN-MAR 2017 | ISSUE 2
 38 you
yes you
can't
THE ART OF SAYING NO
How many times have you agreed to do
Who hasnt said yes something for someone, only to start
wishing you had refused on the get
to something they go? But now its too late. You made a
commitment, and because you are a
knew they shouldnt woman of your word, you have no choice
but to oblige. Now you have one more
stressor to add to your already long list.
agree to, at least
For some people its literally impossible
once in their life? We to say no. I call them the yes people. I
know its really tough to say no to people;
have all done it a few especially the ones you care about, or
those who have a say in the direction of
your life. I can understand you having
times, and too many trouble with these, but there is no
excuse for the yes people. They say yes
times for some. to everything and everybody; even to
complete strangers sometimes. These
By Isaac Barclay | isaac@ingobyi-mag.com three vital elements are necessary for
establishing and maintaining a state of
mind that will allow you to be yourself, and
say no without feeling guilty.
www.ingobyi-mag.com
Internal Peace: The absence of internal
conict is the only way to be at peace with
yourself. Any misalignment between your
life and your core standards will prevent
you from being totally honest with yourself.
Self honesty is necessary for internal
harmony. To be yourself means you need
to identify your core values and align with
them.
Know your personal values: We all have a
built in set of personal values. If we lose
touch with those values we lose touch with
our true self. When we violate those values
we violate our relationship with the person
that we really are. To truly be yourself, it
is vital that you identify those values and
make every effort to live by them.
Pick your pain and pleasure paradigms:
As humans we are programmed to move
away from pain and toward pleasure. To
feel good about our pursuits and goals
they need to represent some form of
pleasure. To avoid the things that are out
of alignment with our core standards and
personal values, they need to represent
pain on some level. If you properly assign
these pain and pleasure paradigms they
will fully support your natural tendency to
be yourself.
People often say yes to things they dont
want to do for fear of being labeled
uncooperative, or unpleasant. Instead they
want to be perceived as nice, easy going
and humble; yes, you heard right! Some
people think saying yes a lot is a sign of
humility.
The purpose of this article is to help you
learn to say no. The word no can change
your life, and I mean that literally. John
Galbraith, the famous economist had a
housekeeper who really knew how to say
no. At one time, President Lyndon Johnson
of the United States made a phone call to
Galbraiths house while the economist was
taking a nap.

sometimes
"no" is the
kindest
word. Vironika Tugaleva
The housekeeper answered the call and
told the President that she could not wake
her boss. President Johnson said to her
Well, Im the President. Wake him up.
The housekeeper replied "I'm sorry, Mr.
President, but I work for Mr. Galbraith, not
for you." Then she hung up. Wow! What a
woman! I bet not a lot of people get to say
no to the President!
Research shows that people who have
trouble saying no are usually more
stressed and depressed. The reason is
simple; being a yes person leads you to
take on more tasks and responsibilities
than you can handle, all in the name of
trying to please someone. As a result,
your schedule is lled with more of other
peoples work and less of the work that will
actually change your life for better. So, you
have too much to do and little time to do
it, hence the stress. Because youre doing
more for others and less for yourself, you
realize you have achieved little in the way
of success, hence the depression.
If you have trouble saying no, here are a
few things to consider;
You are responsible for creating
your own boundaries. Boundaries are
very important in life. If people constantly
expect you to do more and more for them
at the expense of your own projects,
its probably because you have not set
boundaries for yourself. Boundaries are
borders of your personal space that others
are not allowed to cross. People will take
advantage of you once they realize you
cant say no to them. So, for your sake,
please set boundaries for your life; and
theres no better way to do that than to say
no when you know you should. Remember,
boundaries are created, not developed
naturally!
Value your time and priorities.
Before you agree to do something for
someone, ask yourself rst; do I have time
in my schedule to accommodate this?
Is there something more important and
productive I should be doing? Is it really
necessary for me to take on this task?
These questions will help you determine
whether your boundaries are not being
crossed. When you learn to value your
time, and to set your priorities straight, it
will become easier for you to say no to all
sorts of things.
Say no and mean it! When you say
no, you have to actually mean it, and
let the other person know that you are
actually saying no. a half-hearted no will
only enlist the opposite reaction. Avoid
phrases like Im not sure I can do this, I
dont really think I can nd time for this.
Such phrases leave the impression that
you might consider doing it. It gives the
other person hope that you might change
your mind. When you say no, be rm and
certain of it. Leave no room for doubt. And
for goodness sake, stop apologizing for
saying no. while apologizing for saying no
makes you seem polite, it only makes your
no weaker. No means no; it doesnt mean
maybe later.
You are not responsible for
someone elses reaction. As we
saw earlier, you are likely saying yes to
everything for fear of being judged unfairly,
life 39
or hurting someones feelings. Perhaps
you have low self-esteem and youre dying
for everyone to like you. Well, pleasing
everyone around you takes a lot of time
and energy. Your desire to be liked is
causing you to focus more on pleasing
others and less on achieving results. Its
crucial for you to remember that you are
not responsible for how others react to
your reaction. Be true to yourself and let
those who dont understand your decisions
deal with it their own way. Trust me; you
will be happier for it.
No is a statement for very
successful people!. I know this may
sound phony to you because youre a yes
person, but its totally true. Successful
people dont say yes to a lot of things.
Warren Buffet, one of the worlds richest
people once said the difference between
successful people and very successful
people is that very successful people say no
to almost everything.
Of course you cant say no to everything,
otherwise youll have nothing left to
do! But you can say no to most of the
things coming your way. Very often the
most productive tasks are few and very
demanding.
Everything else should stand in line and
await your approval, which most of the
time should be a rm no. some may not
like you, but they will respect you for it.
And I guarantee that you will begin to
see a positive change in your career and
relationships. I hope your life has been
edied, you yes people, no?!
INGOBYI | JAN-MAR 2017 | ISSUE 2
 40 self help

By ingobyi

Procrastination
Have you ever wondered why you never seem able to complete your assignments? You are
constantly complaining about being over loaded, but even when your tasks are cut in half
you still fail to meet deadlines.
Do you remember how you were always in a panic when exams came knocking on the door,
and rushing to do some urgent last minute cram work? Of course your reason was that you
never had enough time to study!
But lets look back to when you were a little younger; your mom spanked you a lot more
often than your siblings for failure to complete your chores on time. For some reason, you
always chose to do your work later!

If this sounds familiar to you, then no doubt-youre suffering from a tiny little disease
called procrastination!

www.ingobyi-mag.com

what can
be done at
anytime
will be


 

: now, this is
done at no
time.
scotish proverb
Its a mouthful, I know! And yes, I was
kidding; its actually not a tiny disease.
In fact it is a virus of mega, titanic
proportions! Its the kind of virus that can
kill your dreams dead!
Im sorryIm getting ahead of myself! Let
me tell you what procrastination is, in small
words. Procrastination is the avoidance of
doing a task that needs to be accomplished.
Your dictionary denes it as the action of
delaying or postponing something. Its that
time when you know theres something
that needs to be done now but you say to
yourself I think I can do this tomorrow. Im
not in a good mood right now. And that
is how you nd deadlines catching up with
you, and your stress levels start shooting
through the roof.
So, what do you think is causing you to be
a procrastinator? I have a few suggestions.
The pleasure principle: Simply put, this
is the desire to avoid negative emotions.
Most procrastinators do so because they
want to avoid feeling bad; because taking
action requires both mental and physical
self help 41
energy. That is why they constantly give Figure out why you procrastinate:
bad mood and I feel a bit tired as regular
excuses. Many procrastinators also give I
work best under pressure as an excuse.
I gave two major reasons why people
procrastinate, the pleasure principle and
the instant gratication. But that is not to
But the truth is, none of these are viable
reasons for not accomplishing a task,
and the only reason youre giving them is
say that those are the only reasons. There
are many additional reasons, and they
may vary from person to person. What are
because you want remain in your comfort
zone.
your reasons? Is it because you dont like
your job for any number of reasons? Is it
that you havent really gured out what

one monkey you need to kick out of your
life real fast! Instant gratication is the
you want to do with your life? Or perhaps
you like to spend most of your time day-
dreaming about the future you want to
tendency to get what I want now. And
usually what you want is some leisure
time. You are saying to yourself I havent
have instead of putting in the necessary
work to get there! Either way, you must
gure out the why of your problem.
checked my Facebook page since morning.
Let me just do that and Ill get back to this
report later. You could choose to nish the
Talk to somebody: now, I know here in
Rwanda we dont have a culture of going to
report now and check your Facebook later, see a shrink (that is code for therapist!) but
there are any number of people who can
but of course, emotionally, Facebook is
more appealing, so you give in. help you deal with your weakness.
We cant fail to mention that If you go to church, talk to your spiritual
procrastination has a negative impact advisor. If you can access the services
on your career, and your life in general. of a therapist in the event that your
Exhaustive studies have been done on the procrastination is severe, then do so. You
adverse effects of procrastination. Many can also talk to a mature friend whose
agree that it has a negative impact on your judgment and integrity you value.
health. Most procrastinators have high
stress levels because they end up having Bottom line is; you may not be able to kick
to complete their tasks in panic mode, on the habit all by yourself.
deadline day.
Failure to nish tasks usually leads to
underachieving in their careers or chosen
paths. This in turn leads to low self-worth
and depression. With this heavy load of
emotions come consequences like insomnia
(chronic lack of sleep), which leads to more
depression. Its a vicious cycle of negative
emotions as well as adverse mental and
physical degradation. So what do you do to
break this very dangerous cycle?
Recognize the problem: If you dont
recognize that you have a serious problem,
then of course there is no need to bother
solving it, right? If you are honest with
yourself, then youre surely on your way to
killing the virus!
INGOBYI | JAN-MAR 2017 | ISSUE 2
 42 health

UNDERSTANDING
gestational
diabetics
THE SECRET BEHIND
KIBONGE BABIES
By INGOBYI

www.ingobyi-mag.com

W
hen you eat, your digestive
system breaks down most of the
food into a sugar called glucose.
Glucose enters your bloodstream so your
cells can use it as fuel. Insulin, a hormone
secreted by your pancreas, facilitates the
glucose absorption from your blood by
your cells. During pregnancy, your body
naturally produces less insulin so that
more glucose is available to nourish your
baby. For most moms-to-be, this isn't a
problem: When your body needs additional
insulin to process excess glucose in blood,
the pancreas automatically avails the
needed quantity.
But if the pancreas can't keep up with
the increased demand for insulin during
pregnancy, blood sugar levels rise too high
because the cells aren't using the glucose.
This results in gestational diabetes, rst
diagnosed during pregnancy. Unlike other
types of diabetes, gestational diabetes isn't
permanent. Once the baby is born, blood
sugar is most likely to return to normal
health 43
quickly. However, having gestational
diabetes does make developing diabetes in
the future more likely. gestational diabetes
How gestational diabetes
affects you and your baby.
affects the mother
Gestational diabetes affects the mother
in late pregnancy, after the baby's body
in late pregnancy,
has been formed, but while the baby is
growing, around the beginning of the third
after the
trimester. When you have gestational
diabetes, your pancreas works overtime
baby's body has been
to produce insulin, but the insulin does
not lower your blood glucose levels. Extra
formed.
blood glucose goes through the placenta,
giving the baby high blood glucose levels.
This causes the baby's pancreas to make
extra insulin to get rid of the glucose in the
blood, transforming it into energy sent to
the cells.
Since the baby is getting more energy than
it needs to grow and develop, the extra
energy is stored as fat, leading to
INGOBYI | JAN-MAR 2017 | ISSUE 2
 44 health

fetal macrosomia, a term used to describe have a medical condition that makes
a newborn whose birth weight is higher diabetes more likely
than 4 kilograms. Overweight babies are
culturally considered good luck in Rwanda, take medication for asthma, high
it is important to
but the reality is that fetal macrosomia
may complicate vaginal delivery and could
blood pressure or mental health
problems
make sure your
also put the baby at a higher risk of health
problems after birth. Cultural beliefs are have had gestational diabetes before
doctor offers you
not necessarily aligned with common
sense! have had a big baby before
a screening test
Most women with gestational diabetes
(macrosomia)
for gestational
have otherwise normal pregnancies with
healthy babies. However, gestational
diabetes can cause other problems such as:
Most women who are diagnosed with
gestational diabetes don't have any diabetics when
symptoms and nd out that they have it

too much amniotic uid (the uid that

surrounds the baby) in the womb,
which can cause premature labor
giving birth before the 37th week of
pregnancy
high blood pressure during
pregnancy can lead to pregnancy
complications if not treated
your baby developing low blood
sugar or yellowing of the skin and
eyes (jaundice) after he or she is
born
Are you at risk?
Globally, about 5 to 10 percent of all
pregnant women get gestational diabetes.
You're more likely to develop gestational
diabetes if you;
are age 25 or older
after taking a test. Therefore it is important
to make sure your doctor offers you a
screening test for gestational diabetes
when you're between 24 and 28 weeks
pregnant. If you have any risk factors for
gestational diabetes, it is suggested you
take the test earlier. Tests are safe for you
and your baby, and don't have any major
side effects.
In women with gestational diabetes,
chances of having problems with the
pregnancy can be reduced by controlling
blood sugar levels which can be reduced by
changes in diet and exercise. If changes in
diet and exercise don't reduce blood sugar
enough, medication in the form of tablets,
or insulin injections may be prescribed by
your doctor. In any case, you will need
to be more closely monitored during your
pregnancy and birth to check for any
potential problems.
If you have gestational diabetes, it is best
to give birth before 41 weeks. Induction
you are 24 and 28
weeks pregnant.
Choose foods high in ber and low in fat
and calories. Focus on fruits, vegetables
and whole grains. Strive for variety to
help you achieve your goals without
compromising taste or nutrition. Watch
portion sizes.
Focus on permanent changes to your
eating habits. Motivate yourself by
remembering the long-term benets of
losing weight, such as improved self-
esteem.
Keep active. Aim for 30 minutes of
moderate activity on most days of the
week. Take a brisk daily walk. If you can't
t a single 30-minute workout into your
day, several shorter sessions can do just as
much good.

have a close relative who has of labor or a caesarean section may

diabetes
are overweight-especially if your
body mass index (BMI) is 30 or
higher
have unbalanced sex hormones
estrogen and progesterone
be recommended if labor doesn't start Lose excess pounds before pregnancy. If
naturally by this time. you're planning to get pregnant, losing
extra weight beforehand may help you
Preventing gestational have a healthier pregnancy.
diabetes: the best option!
The more healthy habits you can adopt
before pregnancy, the better. If you've had
gestational diabetes, these healthy choices
may also reduce your risk of having it in
future pregnancies.

www.ingobyi-mag.com
 I O N E D A N 45

M I L L D E N I
6 2 A R E L L
R L S
GI CATION ORLD. A
U
E R THE W
D
O V E

RWANDA
STANDS OUT
AGAINST GENDER
BASED
DISCRIMINATION
INGOBYI | JAN-MAR 2017 | ISSUE 2
 46

www.ingobyi-mag.com
 fashion 47

MOIforyou
PEARLS, STONES AND FASHION

A
Rwandan fashion designer based in Dubai, Germaine Mwananawe Mwanamwali
Bugingo, began embroidering tablecloths at a young age. It was her passion.
The mother of two young boys never imagined at the time that she was
weaving the know-how that would lead to the creation of MOIFORYOU Collections,
her current brand of clothing. Her designs are a collection of the cultures
adopted from every country she has visited. Here in Kigali, Ingobyi takes the
pleasure of unveiling this vibrant designer. By INGOBYI

On 30th September 2016, the public in Dubai discovered your work during
a fashion show at the Dubai International Financial Center. Tell us how it
all started!

One day I met a person who asked me where I bought the clothes I was wearing. When
I told him that I was a fashion designer and created the pieces myself, she told me about
the fashion show she was organizing and asked me if I was interested in presenting my
pieces. We exchanged contacts and I took the time to learn about the parade in question.
I wanted to know what kind of audience the show would attract so as to nd in my
collections the pieces that would best meet the expectations.

Tell us about the preparations you had to make before the show. What
challenges have you encountered?

Preparing a fashion show requires great organization and attention to detail. The rst
thing is to know the audience that will attend the parade. One must be sure to meet
their expectations. Then, it is necessary to put together the team of models and make
them understand the philosophy of the brand. I know from experience that when the
models clearly understand the spirit of the brand, their attitude during the parade better
corresponds to the right values. The legal aspect must also be taken into account. As an
example, I could not present my collection for children because in Dubai minors are not
allowed to parade.

INGOBYI | JAN-MAR 2017 | ISSUE 2

 48 fashion

What bug stung you to become a

fashion designer?

It was not my rst vocation! When I was

young, I was destined to become a nun. I
spent a lot of time doing good work in my
community. For instance I taught women in
prisons, and mentored orphaned children.
I have a very sensitive nature to the
difculties of others. During my free time
I did a lot of embroidery, and I remember
one of the tablecloths I had made for a mini
exhibition at school was selected to be part
of a bigger one in the Vatican. The things I
see around me leave a deep imprint on my
mind and I express myself using what I have
at hand. I was also able to create beautiful
pieces using different pieces of unusable
fabric.

You have given a very original name

to your clothing brand. Why did you
choose this name?

I'm glad you nd it original. Thank you! You

know, my life is a mosaic of cultures. I was
born in the Democratic Republic of Congo,
formerly Zaire; I lived in South Africa,
England and now Dubai. Each of these
countries has left in me paths through which
my imagination circulates. I am a mix of the
vivid colors of the Congo, the sublime South
African motifs, English perfectionism, the
oriental voluptuousness and pride (agaciro)
of my Rwandan culture. MOIFORYOU is my
way of sharing with the world this sum of
worlds. There is a bit of my story in each of
my creations.

MOIFORYOU is also a mixture of rich

textures and beautiful ornaments,
while remaining sober!

You have understood the spirit MOIFORYOU.

The stones and pearls associated with
beautiful fabrics in different tones bring the
originality that my clientele is looking for.

www.ingobyi-mag.com
 fashion 49

The cutting enhances elegance. Its the essence of a garment that will make you happy.

How did you start marketing your collections?

God has really accomplished great things for me! On the occasion of my brother-in-law's
50th birthday, his sister asked me to make a collection for the ladies. After the party,
several guests came to give me compliments, and my mother-in-law asked me why I
couldnt exploit this talent on a larger scale. More and more people have contacted me
since then. Today, thanks to the circle of friends, my clothes are worn all over Africa and
beyond the African continent. I'm still at the beginning and I'm working hard to nd viable
distribution points.

What people particularly inspired and encouraged you to launch your

project?

I owe much of my success to my mother. I was fatherless in my teens and my mother

fought for her 5 children. I have two brothers and two sisters who are a source of
inspiration, strength and courage. My husband supported me enormously by providing
me with sound advice and giving me much needed moral support. There were moments
of great stress but, despite his frequent trips, he was present when I needed him. The
two gifts of heaven, my sons, have also brought me many moral supports despite their
young age!

What advice would you give to those who will be inspired by your
journey?

When God speaks, things are done. Success comes after crossing the desert. Do not
get discouraged in the face of obstacles but learn the lessons that will lead you farther.
Everything that happens to us in life is a tool; it depends on how well you use it!

 




 " 
#
$

Inequalities between women and men still persist around the world. Personally I do not
miss an opportunity to give my opinion when I face a situation of discrimination based
on gender. My two children are boys and I am very careful that they do not display
discriminatory behavior. If we want a balanced society, it starts today by making our
children understand it.

As a Rwandan woman, I feel privileged compared to women in many other countries. Im

grateful to President Paul Kagame for giving of his time to promote Rwandan women's
rights and equal opportunity.

INGOBYI | JAN-MAR 2017 | ISSUE 2

 50 book review
REVIEWS
KAGAME: THE PRESIDENT OF RWANDA SPEAKS
by FRANCOIS SOUDAN
For many, Paul Kagame is the man who
produced the Rwandan Miracle.
But this former refugee, now president
of a country that experienced the wore
genocide in recent times, also has erce
ennemies.
Twenty years after the genocide of
Rwanda, Paul Kagame candidly reveals
himself for the very rst time.
French version is also available at IKIREZI
BOOKSHOP.
www.ingobyi-mag.com
COCKROACHES
by SCHOLASTIQUE MUKASONGA
Born in Rwanda in 1956, Scholastique
Mukasonga experienced from chi;dhood
the violence of humiliation of the ethnic
conicts that shook her country.
In 1960, her family was displaced to the
polluted and under develloped Bugesera
district of Rwanda.Mukasonga was later
forced to leave the school of social work in
Butare and ee to Burundi.
This autobiography which marked
Mukasonga 's entry into litterature was
published by Gallimard. French version is
also available at IKIREZI BOOKSHOP.
FIND THESE BOOKS AND MORE AT
LIBRAIRIE IKIREZI BOOKSHOP
KG 5 Avenue, No 15 -
Kacyiru-KIGALI
Road behind The Netherlands Embassy.
Phone: +250 252571314
+250 788560358
email:client@ikirezi.biz
 51

INGOBYI
would like
to hear
from you

Tel: +250 734 646 294 | +250 788 351 829

E-mail: info@ingobyi-mag.com
Website: www.ingobyi-mag.com

INGOBYI | JAN-MAR 2017 | ISSUE 2

 52

www.ingobyi-mag.com